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See & Do
There's plenty to see and do here in Orepuki. Check out our favourites below for some ideas. Is your favourite spot missing? Make sure you contact us to get it included.
local attractions
Monkey Island Te puka o Takitimu
It is believed that the monkey name came from the monkey winch used to pull boats ashore.
Monkey island was the first site of the Orepuki township in the 1860’s with a jetty, supplies, and services provided for the miners.
Nowadays the beach is a great spot for recreation including swimming, surfing and fishing.
Photo supplied by Stephanie Watson.
Gemstone Beach
This beach has an abundance of semi-precious stones, including translucent garnet stones in an array of colours.
Originating in the mountains of Fiordland, the stones have been carried south by glaciers and rivers and are millions of years old.
The Maori people originally used the unique and highly prized gemstones on the beach to sharpen their axes (toki).
Nowadays, locals and tourists alike visit the popular beach to try and find a prized gemstone.
Photo supplied by Rhuaridh Hannan.
Nearby attractions
Long Hilly Track
This walking track is an extensive historic trek through New Zealand gold mining history with relics left from the Chinese and European settlement from the 19th century. Walkers will enjoy quiet native bush as they walk the gravel track, spot old saw milling artifacts, look out for native birds, and view the crumbling earth dams.
McCracken's Rest
McCracken's Rest is a lookout and rest area perched on the edge of the cliff with commanding views of Te Waewae Bay and the tiny one million year old Solander Islands, formed by the eroded skeleton of a volcano. According to Maori legend, the Solanders are the broken tooth and crumbs tossed aside by Kewa the whale, when it chewed between Stewart Island (Rakiura) and the mainland.
Cosy Nook
Cosy Nook is a picturesque rocky cove sheltering several fishing boats and holiday cribs.
It is an important cultural and historical Maori settlement site.
Nearby Towns
Tuatapere
Tuatapere
Tuatapere
Tūātapere sits on the edge of wilderness amid spectacular unspoilt scenery and lush rolling farmland. It is the launch pad to accessing the variety of natural environments and adventure activities in Western Southland, including world-class jet boating and hiking. Lying on the Southern Scenic Route, it is an increasingly well-travelled place to stop.
The town has a rich sawmilling history and is home to a fascinating logging museum, along with many other quaint reminders of the town’s pioneering history. Tui Base Camp not only offers a range of affordable accommodation and facilities for travellers, it is also the homebase for the World Famous Tuatapere Sausage, as the town is also known as the sausage capital of New Zealand.
The Waiau River flows through Tūātapere, which is 8km from the southern coast, before reaching Te Waewae Bay and the majestic expanses of Blue Cliffs Beach. The South Coast Track and the impressive 3-day Hump Ridge Track begin at the end of the bay.
Colac Bay
Tuatapere
Tuatapere
Colac Bay Ōraka is a 10-minute drive westward from Riverton. The bay is very popular for surfing, with waves suitable for all levels, and its northern end is good for swimming.
The bay's sandy beach is great for most coastal activities, such as beachcombing, walking, paddling, fishing, diving or horse riding, and in places, you can see Raratoka Island, Centre Island and Stewart Island.
A small township of the same name is nestled in the bay and is a popular seaside retreat. It features a large quirky statue of a surfer riding a wave that offers a great photo opportunity for tourists. The area around the township and the bay has a long history of Māori settlement and was also the site of a significant Chinese gold mining village called Canton. European settlers milled timber in the area from the 1850s onwards, with the town booming after the arrival of the railway in 1881.
Riverton
Tuatapere
Riverton
Thirty kilometres from Invercargill, the seaside town of Riverton, Aparima, is one of the most popular towns in Western Southland and is a great stop on the Southern Scenic Route. The township is nestled at the western end of Oreti Beach, set in a picturesque location on both sides of the estuary of the Aparima River (also known as Jacobs River). The fondly named “Riviera of the South” is a fantastic place for a family holiday or a real New Zealand “crib” (seaside bach) experience.